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f)I thank everyone present here today for being active in our discussion. And to conclude our today's meeting I must say it has been stimulating and professionally rewarding. I declare the meeting closed. Thank you.

4.8. Taking part in a panel discussion

Panel discussions at conferences are a useful way to trigger an exchange of viewpoints among experts, either with prepared statements or in response to questions from the audience. Because they involve on-the-spot interaction, they are more difficult to prepare for than presentations. Because they may involve divergence of viewpoints and possibly competition for speaking time, they are also more difficult to manage than the normal questions at the end of a presentation. For the same reasons, they are more challenging to moderate than a regular conference session.

Panels are teams. Whether or not, panelists agree on all issues, they can and should work together to create an interesting discussion. If you are a panelist, play the part — prepare well and participate well. If you are the moderator, direct your team well, from the beginning of the session to the end.

Participating in the discussion

During the discussion itself, follow the moderator's instructions. As a rule, speak only when invited to, but feel free to give signals to the moderator when you would like to contribute to the discussion. When you are speaking, keep it short: A panel discussion is about exchanges, not monologues. When you are not speaking, listen attentively to what others are saying: Make written or mental notes. As much as possible, be a member of the team: Strive to advance the discussion, not your own interests.

1. Read the text. Analyze the phrases in italics. What role do they play in the discussion?

SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS ON LIVE ANIMALS

Dr. ARCH: Dr. Curry, you said, if I followed you, that the use of animals for cruel experiments is justified if these experiments arc conducted for the benefit of mankind.

Dr. CURRY: Yes, that's what I said.

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ARCH: Does this mean, then, that the suffering (often unnecessary) and death of thousands of living things can be beneficial to the well-being and the harmonious development of another living being — man?

CURRY: Well, that's not exactly what I mean. What I was trying to say is that new areas of medicine and surgery must be safe for human beings. When considered from this point of view, I strongly believe that the life of just one animal may be taken to save the lives of thousands of people.

ARCH: I don 7 see it that way. CURRY: You don't?

ARCH: The point is, animals ought to be allowed to enjoy the gift of life. In my opinion, one can't take the responsibility of disposing of the life of anything or anybody.

CURRY: Do you mean to say then that you would volunteer, or allow a member of your family to volunteer, to test new medicine, rather than use an experimental animal?

ARCH: That s a good question. But I think I would volunteer. I would if the motivation to do it were strong.

CURRY: Suppose you would. But do you expect there would be enough volunteers for a drug to be fully tested? Don't you think that the practice of using human volunteers might result in another thalidomide* babies phenomenon?

ARCH: Sorry, I didn’t catch the last point, Dr. Curry. Would you mind explaining it?

CURRY: Not at all. What I mean is that the experiment might bring no damage whatever to the subject himself. But nobody knows how harmful the effect of it may be on the descendants.

2.Study some organizing elements of discussion.

A.Reference to what has been said

You said/argued/mention that ... .

You made an interesting remark about ... .

You made an appropriate point about ... .

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B. Interactions 1. Asking for explanation/clarification/opinion.

Could you specify what/where/how/when/why... ? Would you say that again?

Sorry, I didn't catch the last point.

1 don't understand, if/how/why... .

Would you mind explaining it once again? Your point isn't quite clear yet.

Could you go into more detail about ... ? Why/where do you think I am mistaken/wrong?

2. Making sure the other party understands.

What I'm saying/trying to say is ... .

What I mean is ... .

I'd like to make it clear that ... .

Let me rephrase what I've said.

Do you follow me?

Are you with me?

Is it clear so far?

3. Making sure you understand.

Did I understand you correctly that ... ? Do I understand you to say that ... ?

If I understand you correctly, you're saying that ... .

If I followed you correctly, you said/referred to... .

So, what you are saying is ... .

Do you mean to say that ... ? Does this mean that ... ?

4. Breaking in.

Excuse me, may I say something here?

Sorry to interrupt you but I'd like to ask if/why ...

Excuse me, I'd like to comment on this. Oh, yes. But what would you say about ... ? May I ask you a question?

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5. Encouraging the other party.

Go on, please.

Yes, what is it?

That's a good/reasonable question.

I see your point.

Yes?

C. Expressing one's opinion, assessment, judgment

I. Agreeing or disagreeing; expressing confirmation.

Yes, I think so.

That’s (very) true.

I am of the same opinion/view. Absolutely/Exactly/Quite so.

I agree with you there. Perhaps you are right.

I see your point/what you mean.

I am afraid I can’t agree with you here. I don’t think so.

That’s not exactly so.

That's (not) exactly what I mean.

2. Expressing hesitation, doubt, certainty, uncertainty.

There is no denying that ... .

Well, let me see/think ... .

I'm not sure that ... . I doubt that ... .

It's questionable that ... .

Yes, but on the other hand ... .

3. Expressing one's own opinion.

I guess/think/suppose ... .

To my mind, ... .

In my opinion, ... .

I strongly believe that... .

I would argue that... .

As far as I can judge, ... .

As far as I know, ... .

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3.Work as a group. Everyone in turn makes a statement and the others ask do you think questions. Agree or disagree with the statement, express confirmation or uncertainty. Turn to the phrases for the necessary vocabulary. Extend your statements, make them argumentative.

4.Read the following dialogs. Find organizing elements. What do they express?

Dialog 1

Do you see my point?

A:Did I understand you correctly that, in your opinion, divorce is mainly caused by factors external to marriage?

В: Yes, that's what I said.

A:Docs that mean that you consider ethical, psychological, and physiological factors less important in maintaining or breaking up a marriage?

B:Not exactly. What 1 was trying to say is that some changes in our social and economic life have a strong impact on private life. They bring about a dramatic increase in divorce.

A:I'm not sure what you mean. To what changes are you referring?

B:The strain and stress of urban life, the sexual revolution, the decline of religion as an inhibiting factor, to name only a few.

A: I see your point.

Dialog 2

Would you agree?

A:Excuse me, may I say something here?

B:Yes, what is it?

A:I'm afraid I can't agree that divorce badly affects children in all eases. Sometimes it brings relief.

B:Yes, go on please.

A:When divorce is preceded by family conflicts and quarrels, it is sure to relieve some stress in the child's life. Besides, it gives a chance to have a happier life in a newly-formed family if a divorced spouse remarries successfully.

B:That may be so. But, on the other hand, don't you think that children are usually excluded from their parents' problem-solving and decision-making without any

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right to participate in them? Their opinions are not taken into consideration, their likes and dislikes are ignored. And this may be a cause of a very dramatic crisis for a child. It doesn't matter how successful the relationship with the new mother or father might be in the future.

5. Practice in pairs some mini-discussions of the topics which might interest you. Turn to the list of phrases for necessary vocabulary.

Strategies

1. A. Makes a statement; makes sure В understands it.

B. Confirms the accuracy of understanding. Agrees or disagrees, expresses doubt or uncertainty. Gives reasons.

2. A. Makes an extended statement. B. Breaks in.

A. Expresses encouragement or asks for clarification.

B. Asks a question or makes a comment giving his/her own opinion.

3. A. Makes a statement.

B. Makes sure he/she understands it.

A.Confirms the accuracy of understanding or makes a correction.

B.Responds by agreeing, disagreeing or expressing hesitation.

A.Encourages В to continue.

4. A. Makes a statement.

B. Asks for an explanation. Gives reasons.

A.Explains. Makes sure В understands.

B.Confirms the accuracy of understanding or makes a correction. Agrees, disagrees or expresses hesitation.

5. A. Makes a statement.

B. Refers to what has been said. Asks В a question.

A.Answers the question, extends the statement.

B.Asks another question.

6. A. Makes an extended statement. B. Breaks in with a brief comment.

A.Encourages В to expand on the subject.

B.Expresses his/her opinion. Agrees or disagrees with A.